Updated Marriage and Family Therapy Scope of Practice Signed into Law

CAMFT, the California Association of Marriage and Family Therapists, is pleased to announce that Governor Newsom has signed CAMFT’s scope of practice legislation into law, to take effect January 1, 2022.

A special thank you to the work of the last three CAMFT Boards of Directors, members of the Scope of Practice Task Force, CAMFT's Legislative Committees, and all members and staff who contributed to make this effort possible.

Effective January 1, 2022 the new MFT Scope of Practice will be:

For the purposes of this chapter, the practice of marriage and family therapy shall mean the application of psychotherapeutic and family systems theories, principles, and methods in the delivery of services to individuals, couples, or groups in order to assess, evaluate, and treat relational issues, emotional disorders, behavioral problems, mental illness, alcohol and substance use, and to modify intrapersonal and interpersonal behaviors.

(b) The application of marriage and family therapy principles and methods includes, but is not limited to, all of the following:

(1) Assessment, evaluation, and prognosis.
(2) Treatment, planning, and evaluation.
(3) Individual, relationship, family, or group therapeutic interventions.
(4) Relational therapy.
(5) Psychotherapy.
(6) Client education.
(7) Clinical case management.
(8) Consultation.
(9) Supervision.
(10) Use, application, and integration of the coursework and training required by Sections 4980.36, 4980.37, and 4980.41, as applicable.

(c) The amendments to this section made by the act adding this subdivision do not constitute a change in, but are declaratory of, existing law. It is the intent of the Legislature that these amendments shall not be construed to expand or constrict the existing scope of practice of a person licensed pursuant to this chapter.